Too often we’re left with mountains of little balls of sock yarn. Here’s a nice and easy way to use up those leftovers bits.
You can use one of two methods:
1. If you have two colors you want to use up, use one color for the cuff, heel flap, and toe.
2. If you have 3 or more colors to use up, use one for the heel and toe and alternate the other
colors every few rows. Just makes sure you use the same striping pattern for both socks.

Materials

50 grams or more total of sock yarn
for ankle socks100 grams for socks that go up the
top of the calf1 set of 5 dpns – size 1 US or size
needed to match gaugeGauge:
25sts = 4inches

Directions

Cast On(MC): 52(56, 60, 64, 68), 13 (14, 15, 16, 17) sts on each needle.
Work 2×2 ribbing for 10 rnds
Work St st for 4 rndsHeel Flap(CC):
Rnd 1: K1, sl 1 across 26 (28, 30, 32, 34) sts, turn.
Rnd 2: P1, sl 1 across 26 (28, 30, 32, 34) sts, turn.
Place unworked sts on a stitch holder.
Repeat rnds 1 & 2 until the heel flap measures 2 (2 1/4, 2 1/2, 2 3/4, 3) inches (the approx length of
your heel).Turn Heel:
Rnd 1: K across 13(15, 16, 17, 18) sts. SSK, K1, turn work.
Rnd 2: Sl 1 purlwise, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.
Rnd 3: Sl 1 purlwise, k to 1st stitch before gap (1 st from each side of gap), SSk, k1, turn.
Rnd 4: Sl 1 purlwise, p to 1st stitch before gap, p2tog, p1, turn.
Rep rnds 3 & 4 until all heel sts have been worked ending in a wrong side row, end with a p2tog if not
enough sts to p2tog, p1. There will be 16(16, 18, 18, 20) sts remaining.Heel Gusset(MC):
Needle 1: K across 13(14, 15, 16, 17) heel sts; Needle 2: K across 13(14, 15, 16, 17) heel sts; Needle
3: Pick up and k 13(14, 15, 16, 17) sts (aprrox. every other row along side), k across 8(8, 9, 9, 10);
Needle 4: k 8(8, 9, 9, 10) and pick up and k 13(14, 15, 16, 17) sts with needle 4.
Rnd 1: Knit all.
Rnd 2: K to last 3 sts on needle 1, k2tog, k1, K all on needles 2 & 3, K1, SSK, K to end.
Repeat rnds 1 & 2 until there are 52(56, 60, 64, 68)sts remaining.
Work all rnds in sts until it measures 6.5(7.5, 8, 8, 8.5) inches from back of heel or about the length of
your back of heel to base of big toe.Toe (CC):
Rnd 1: Needle 1, k to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1; needle 2: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts on needle 3, k2tog, k1.
Needle 4: k1, ssk, k to end.
Rnd 2: K all.
Repeat rnds 1 & 2 until 24(28, 28, 32, 36) sts remain, ending with a k all rnd.
Turn sock inside out and 3 needle bind off to seam up remaining sts. Weave in all ends.
Make another one to have a pair.
Note: If you would like to make longer socks, just work the 2×2 ribbing for desired length.
It’s been a lot of fun posting about using up your leftover yarn. Creative ways to rethink, organize, and fall in love with your scraps. Here’s a round up of the posts I’ve done over the past couple of weeks.Creating with Yarn Scraps: Crochet Catnip Toy (first appeared in the September issue of clm)Color Theory for Yarnies: matching the mismatchedKeeping Yarn Leftovers OrganizedHow to Refresh Your Yarn Scraps with BraidingCompost Critters: Fingerless Mitten Pattern (First released in the Jan 09 issue of clm)Yarn Yardage Leftovers: Crewel EmbroideryMixing Fibers: Free Knit Pin Cushion PatternHow-To: Recycle a Sweater for Yarn
It’s been a really great experience for me and I think it will actually help to improve my own blogging on Craft Leftovers – editorial standards, copy editing, consistency, and all that sort of thing. Even just things like having banners for my different type of posts: ReDress, Thrift Kitchen, book reviews, Patterns, HowTo’s. I hope over the next month I’ll be able to start acting on the things I’ve learned from the staff at CRAFT, they are one amazing group of people. I love their website and they are constantly promoting and giving opportunities to the fresh starts out there, like myself! They have really helped Craft Leftovers hit the ground running. Thanks CRAFT team!